July 31, 1994 ~ Symere Woods, commonly known as rapper Lil' Uzi Vert, born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA ~ Merges emo's dark subject matters with trap. Released his full-length Luv Is Rage 2 album in 2017. Known for songs such as Money Longer, You Was Right, New Patek. The singles XO Tour Lif3 and Futsal Shuffle 2020 would reach top 10 of the all-genre Billboard Hot 100. Has collaborated with Future, Quavo, Travis Scott, Oh Wonder, Wiz Khalifa, Fabolous, A$AP Mob, Juice WRLD, and others
July 31, 1985 ~ Heavy metal, melodic death metal singer Alissa White-Gluz born in Montreal, Canada ~ Best known as lead singer of Arch Enemy and lead singer, co-founding member of the Agonist. Has also guested on recordings by Kamelot, Delain, Carnifex, and Powerwolf
July 31, 1985 ~ Blues-rock guitarist, singer Shannon Curfman, full name Shannon Marie Curfman, born in Fargo, North Dakota, USA ~ Released her Loud Guitars Big Suspicion debut album in 1999, at age 14. Has been a member of Kid Rock's backing unit Twisted Brown Trucker since 2010
July 31, 1984 ~ Percussionist, composer Manu Delago born ~ Worked with Zabine, Michael Tschuggnall, Nadine Beller, the Jazzwerkstatt Wien, Anoushka Shankar, Shpongle, Bugge Wesseltoft, Giannis Haroulis, Nitin Sawhney, Stuart McCallum, Boris Grevenschikov, George Breinschmid, Björk, the Cinematic Orchestra, and others
July 31, 1978 ~ Indie folk singer, guitarist, bassist, percussionist, songwriter José González, full name José Gabriel González, born in Gothenburg, Sweden ~ Released his Veneer solo debut album in 2003 and has recorded to warm reception since. Internationally especially acclaimed for his 2015 Vestiges And Claws album. Has collaborated with Junip, Zero 7, Jori Hulkkonen, the Books, the Gotheburg String Theory, and others
July 31, 1978 ~ Drummer, keyboardist, songwriter Will Champion born in Southampton, UK ~ Member of Fat Hamster. Last bandmember to join Coldplay in late-1997. Has been with the band since. Has also guested on Magne Furuholmen's first solo album Past Perfect Future Tense and on Brian Eno's Someday World
July 31, 1978 ~ Singer, guitarist Zac Brown, full name Zachry Alexander Brown, born in Cumming, Georgia, USA ~ Lead singer, eponym of country, country-rock outfit the Zac Brown Band, with whom he recorded over half a dozen albums starting with the band's The Foundation debut album released in 2008. The band would consistently reach the higher echelons of the Billboard Country charts throughout the 2010, songs such as Chicken Fried, Toes, Highway 20 Ride, Free, As She's Walking Away featuring Alan Jackson, Colder Weather, Knee Deep featuring Jimmy Buffett, and Keep Me In Mind would all top the country charts.
July 31, 1973 ~ Geraldo Rivera Rodriguez, commonly known as salsa singer, songwriter Jerry Rivera, born in Humucao, Puerto Rico ~ Actively recording since his teens, debuting in 1989 with the album Empezando A Vivir, earning him the nickname “the Baby of Salsa”. Known best for songs such as De La Cabeza A Los Pies, Me Estoy Enloqueciendo Por Ti, Suave, Ese, Quiero, Vuela Muy Alto, Solo Pienso En Ti and El Amor Existe
July 31, 1971 ~ Singer, songwriter, arranger Claudia Acuna born in Santiago, Chile ~ Debuted in 1999 with the album The Wind From The South. Has collaborated with Peck Almond, George Benson, Joey Calderazzo, Avishai Cohen, Mark Elf, Tom Harrell, Antonio Hart, Arturo O'Farrill, Guilermo Klein, Billy Childs, David Gilmore, Susie Ibarra, Willie Jones III, Jason Lindner, Fabrizio Soti, Louie Vega, and others
July 31, 1971 ~ Pop rock guitarist, percussionist Harri Mänty born in Vasterås, Sweden ~ Lead singer of short-lived hardcore punk band No Security. Best known as member of alternative rock outfit Kent from 1996 through 2006, joining the band after the departure of Martin Roos
July 31, 1971 ~ John William Lowery, commonly known as singer, guitarist John 5, born in Grosse Pointe, Michigan, USA ~ Worked with David Lee Roth, Marilyn Manson, Rob Zombie. As a solo artist debuted with the album Vertigo in 2004 and has recorded steadily since. Staff writer for Chrysalis Records having worked with Matt Ball, Avril Lavigne, Rob Halford, kd Lang, Garbage, Meat Loaf, the Scorpions, Ozzy Osbourne, Slash, Fefe Dobson, Steve Perry, Lynyrd Skynyrd, and others
July 31, 1970 ~ Industrial metal singer, guitarist Alexander Krull born in Ludwigsburg, West Germany ~ Best known as co-founding member, lead singer of Atrocity. Has also worked with Leaves' Eyes, Elis, and Erben Der Schöpfung
July 31, 1966 ~ Composer Ben Daglish born in London, UK ~ Best known as a composer for computer games during the 1980s, including The Last Ninja, Trap, Krakout and Deflektor ~ Daglish passed away in 2018
July 31, 1964 ~ John Richard Keith Townshend, commonly known as drummer, TV personality Fuzz Townshend, born ~ Best known as a TV personality, co-hosting Car SOS. As a drummer has worked with General Public, with Pop Will Eat Itself, and has released a number of solo recordings starting with the single Hello Darlin' in 1996, a modest hit in the UK
July 31, 1964 ~ Guitarist, keyboardist Jim Corr, full name James Steven Ignatius Corr, born in Dundalk, Ireland ~ Member of sibling outfit the Corrs, alongisde his younger sisters Andrea Corr, Sharon Corr, Caroline Corr. The band scored hits with songs such as Runaway, Only When I Sleep, Dreams and Breathless, all of which reached top 10 in the band's native Ireland. Corr is also known as a conspirary theorist and blogger, running a 9/11 truther website through 2015 when one day all content disappeared and the site's URL redirected to the band's official site
July 31, 1963 ~ Singer Denise Johnson born in Manchester, UK ~ Best known for her association with Primal Scream singing backup for the band from 1990 through 1995. Sang co-lead on the single Don't Fight It (Feel It) taken of the quintessential 1991 Screamadelica album. Johnson has also worked with New Order, the Pet Shop Boys, A Certain Ratio, and others, as well as recorded as a solo artist ~ Johnson passed away in 2020
July 31, 1963 ~ Norman Quentin Cook, commonly known as producer, DJ Fatboy Slim, born in Bromley, UK ~ Bassist of the Housemartins in the 1980s, best known for the single Caravan Of Love. Helped popularize the big beat genre in the 1990s. Formed Beats International, known for hits such as Dub Be Good To Me. Enjoyed succes with his own records, scoring hits such as The Rockafeller Skank, as well as being a sought-after remixer reworking songs by Cornershop, the Beastie Boys, A Tribe Called Quest, Groove Armada, Wildchild and others
July 31, 1962 ~ Regina Paula Martins, commonly known as singer Paula Morelenbaum, born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil ~ Married to conductor, cellist Jaques Morelenbaum, with whom she also worked in the Quarteto Jobim Morelenbaum. Has also recorded as a solo artist and collaborated with Ryuichi Sakamoto, the SWR Bigband, and others
July 31, 1959 ~ Trumpeter, singer Saskia Laroo born in Amsterdam, the Netherlands ~ Dubbed “the Lady Miles Davis.” Leader and sidewoman. Has worked with Fra Fra Sound, Rosa King, Hans Dulfer, Candy Dulfer, Wynton Marsalis, Toots Thielemans, Roy Hargrove, Teddy Edwards, Warren Byrd, Billy Preston, and others
July 31, 1959 ~ Guitarist Stanley Jordan born in Chicago, Illinois, USA ~ Leader and sideman. Worked with Benny Carter, Dizzy Gillespie, Quincy Jones, Onaje Allan Gumbs, Michal Urbaniak, Richie Cole, the Dave Matthews Band, the String Cheese Incident, Phil Lesh, Moe, Umphrys McGee, Stanley Clarke, Charnett Moffett, Rebbie Jackson, Dionne Warwick, Ray Benson, Will Calhoun, and others
July 31, 1958 ~ Drummer Bill Berry born in Duluth, Minnesota, USA ~ Longtime member of alternative rock band REM, though best known as the band's drummer, Berry also plays occasional guitar, piano, bass, mandolin on their albums. Wrote or co-wrote some of the band's best-known songs including Everybody Hurts, Man On The Moon, Perfect Circle, 8, Can't Get There From Here, and I Took Your Name. Also a member of Hindu Love Gods, alongside Warren Zevon, Bryan Cook, and REM-bandmates Peter Buck and Mike Mills
July 31, 1957 ~ Alternative rock, gothic rock, post-punk guitarist, keyboardist, singer, songwriter Daniel Ash, full name Daniel Gaston Ash, born in Northampton, UK ~ Influenced guitarists such as Jane's Addiction's Dave Navarro, Soundgarden's Kim Thayil, the Red Hot Chili Peppers' John Frusciante. First gained attention in the late 1970s as guitarist of Bauhaus, known best for their Bela Lugosi's Dead debut single and their subbsequent debut album In The Flat Field, both considered hugely influential in goth rock and the latter cited as one of the first goth rock albums. Ash has also recorded as a solo artist, starting with 1991's Coming Down, and with acts such as Love & Rockets, Tones on Tail, Bubblemen, Poptone. His song Trouble is featured in the 2000 American Psycho film
July 31, 1955 ~ Jazz guitarist, composer Bruce Arnold born in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, USA ~ Leader and sideman. Worked with Stuart Hamm, Peter Erskine, Joe Pass, Joe Lovano, Lenny Pickett, Randy Brecker, Stanley Clarke, the Boston Symphony Orchestra, and others
July 31, 1952 ~ Jazz pianist Michael Wolff, full name Michael Blieden Wolff, born in Victorville, California, USA ~ Leader and sideman. Worked with Cal Tjader, Cannonball Adderley, Answering Service, Frank Sinatra, Impure Thoughts, Warren Zevon, Bobby McFerrin, Sonny Rollins, Wayne Shorter, Jean-Luc Ponty, Terri Lyne Carrington, Christian McBride, Nancy Wilson, Steve Wilson, Lenny Pickett, James Genus, and others
July 31, 1951 ~ Harmonica player Howard Levy born in New York, New York, USA ~ Founding member of Béla Fleck's acclaimed group the Flecktones. Wrote the Grammy Award-winning Life In Eleven of the Rocket Science album. Has also worked with Trio Globo, Rabih Abou Khalil, Paquito d'Rivera, Donald Fagen, Paul Simon, John Prine, Ben Sidran, Bobby McFerrin, Chuck Mangione, Claudio Roditi, Dennis DeYoung, Dolly Parton, Jerry Butler, Miroslav Tadic, Pete Seeger, Steve Goodman, Tom Paxton, and others
July 31, 1948 ~ Charles Dee Wilson, commonly known as saxophonist, clarinetist, flutist Chuck Wilson, born in Wichita Falls, Texas, USA ~ Took up the saxophone at age 11, led his own trio while still in high school. Spent much of his career in various big band ensembles. As a leader known for his 2010 Echo Of Spring album. As a sideman toured and recorded with the likes of Jerry Gray, Buddy Rich, Leon Redbone, Howard Alden (Swing Street), Loren Schoenberg, Buck Clayton, Bob Belden (Straight To My Heart (The Music Of Sting)), the One O'Clock Lab Band, Marisa Monte, John Pizzarelli, and Randy Sandke ~ Wilson passed away in 2018
July 31, 1948 ~ Singer Leaveil Degree born in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA ~ Member of the Whispers, joining in 1973 as replacement for Gordy Harmon. Present on the band's best-known, the early 1980s hits And The Beat Goes On and It's A Love Thing
July 31, 1948 ~ Singer, guitarist, songwriter Russell Morris, full name Russell Norman Morris, born ~ Enjoyed popularity during the late 1960s and 197os, songs such as The Real Thing, Part Three Into Paper Walls, Mr America, Sweet Sweet Love and Wings Of An Eagle reaching top 10 in his native Australia
July 31, 1947 ~ Bassist Karl Green, full name Karl Anthony Green, born in Salford, UK ~ Co-founding member of Herman's Hermits, remaining with the band through 1980. Wrote the band's Busy Line and Moonshine Man. Took over lead vocal duties in 1974 after the departure of Peter Noone
July 31, 1944 ~ Saxophonist Carl Magnus Neumann born in Oslo, Norway ~ Considered one of the best saxophonists in Norway. Played with Roy Hellvin, Karin Krog, Terje Borklund, Svein Finnerud Trio, Dizzy Gillespie, Espen Rud, Nils Okland, Bjørnar Andresen, Erik Wesseltoft, and others
July 31, 1943 ~ Roland Kent Lavoie, commonly known as singer, songwriter Lobo, born in Tallahassee, Florida, USA ~ Enjoyed his greatest success in the 1970s with songs such as I'd Love You To Want Me, Don't Expect Me To Be Your Friend, Where Were You (When I Was Falling In Love) and perhaps his best-known Me And You And A Dog Named Boo. LaVoie was a member of early 1960s outfit the Rumours which also included the then-unknown Gram Parsons, Jim Stafford and Jon Corneal
July 31, 1943 ~ Songwriter Paul Politi, full name Paul Leo Politi, born ~ Best known for his songwriting partnership with Barry White, co-writing numerous songs including It May Be Winter Outside (But In My Heart It's Spring) and Under The Influence Of Love (both originally recorded by Felice Taylor and later hits for White protegées Love Unlimited), as well as several tracks recorded by White (notably Any Fool Could See You Were Meant For Me, It Ain't Love Babe (Until You Give It) and Love Ain't Easy)
July 31, 1942 ~ Tenor singer Otoniel Gonzaga born in Ilollo, Philippines ~ Internationally renowned tenor worked with conductors such as Pablo Casals, Herbert von Karajan, Giuseppe Patanè, Eugene Ormandy, Max Rudolf, Alberto Erede, John Pritchard, Michael Gielen, and others ~ Gonzaga passed away in 2018
July 31, 1939 ~ Orchestral, opera conductor, pianist Steuart Bedford, full name Steauart John Rudolf Bedford, born ~ Brother of composer David Bedford and singer Peter Lehmann Bedford. Best known for his association with Benjamin Britten, conducting and recording several of Britten's works including premiering Death In Venice in 1973 ~ Bedford passed away in 2021
July 31, 1934 ~ Singer, producer, songwriter Barry Devorzon born in New York, New York, USA ~ Founded Valiant Records. Member of Barry & the Tamerlanes. Wrote or co-wrote songs for Marty Robbins (Just Married), Johnny Burnette (Dreamin'), Dorsey Burnette (Big Rock Candy Mountain), and the Cascades (Shy Girl). Also known as a composer for film and TV, including Theme From SWAT and Nadia's Theme (The Young And Restless)
July 31, 1931 ~ Jazz, blues, soul jazz guitarist Kenny Burrell, full name Kenneth Earl Burrell, born in Detroit, Michigan, USA ~ Perhaps best known for his association with organist Jimmy Smith, including on the 1965 Organ Grinder Swing album. Leader and sideman. Cites Charlie Christian, Oscar Moore, Django Reinhardt, T-Bone Walker and Muddy Waters as influences. Has collaborated with Tommy Flanagan, Tony Bennett, Lena Horne, Billie Holiday, Gene Ammons, Kenny Dorham, Benny Goodman, John Coltrane, Stanley Turrentine, Gil Evans, Donald Byrd, Stan Getz, Red Garland, Milt Jackson, Illinois Jacquet, Etta Jones, Wynton Kelly, Brother Jack McDuff, Gary McFarland, Ray Barretto, Aaron Bell, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Ronnell Bright, James Brown, Betty Carter, Buck Clayton, Aretha Franklin, BB King, Miriam Makeba, Ike Quebec, Della Reese, Zoot Sims, and others
July 31, 1925 ~ Singer, actress Carmel Quinn born in Dublin, Ireland ~ Active in her native Ireland since her teens, working with Johnny Devlin and others. After relocating to America first gained attention on Arthur Godfrey's Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts radio show in 1955. Would become a regular on Godfrey's programs through the early 1970. Also starred in numerous musical roadshows including productions of Wildcat and The Sound Of Music. Best known for her 1955 recording of Whistling Gypsy ~ Quinn passed away in 2021
July 31, 1923 ~ Saxophonist, clarinetist Bjarne Nerem, full name Bjarne Arnuld Nerem, born in Oslo, Norway ~ Among the top soloists on Norway's jazz scene. Influenced by Lester Young and Stan Getz. Through the early 1970s Nerem played in ensembles led by Rowland Greenberg, Thore Jederby, Simon Brehm, and Carl Henrik Norin, before venturing out on his own, eventually recording over half a dozen albums as leader or co-leader. As a sideman, over the course of his career Nerem has worked with international artists such as Roy Haynes, Quincy Jones, Ernestine Anderson, Benny Golson, and Jimmy Witherspoon, as well with the finest Scandinavian jazz musicians including Lars Gullin, Monica Zetterlund, Gunnar Almstedt, Harry Arnold, Nils Lindberg, Jan Johansson, and Kjell Karlsen ~ Nerem passed away in 1991
July 31, 1920 ~ Walter Aptowitz, commonly known as composer, music critic, teacher Walter Arlen, born in Vienna, Austria ~ Prolific composer specializing in voice and piano scores, with some 65 works to his name. Best known for tracking down other artists whose works were lost or forgotten due to the Nazi regime. Aptowitzer himself fled Europe, relocating to Chicago, after his parents department store was expropriated by the Nazis in the 1938 Kristallnacht. His father would die in a concentration camp, his mother committed suicide after a breakdown. Aptowitzer would form longtime friendships with other German and Austrian emigrées, including Igor Stravinsky, Darius Milhaud, and Heitor Villa-Lobos ~ Aptowitzer passed away in 2023
July 31, 1918 ~ Jazz pianist, composer Hank Jones, full name Henry Jones Jr, born in Vicksburg, Mississippi, USA ~ Brother of trumpeter Thad Jones and drummer Elvin Jones. Influenced by Earl Hines, Fats Waller, Teddy Wilson, and Art Tatum. Over 60 albums to his name as a leader, especially acclaimed for the mid-1950s albums Bluebird and Urbanity. Accompanied Marilyn Monroe on piano as she sang Happy Birthday Mr President to then President John F Kennedy. Frequent collaborator, sideman to Milt Jackson, JJ Johnson, Oliver Nelson, and Sonny Stitt ~ Jones passed away in 2010
July 31, 1915 ~ Songwriter, pianist George Forest, full name George Forrest Chicester Jr, born ~ Regular collaborator of Robert Wright, the duo often adapting classical music to create over an estimated 2,000 songs for musicals, revues and films. Perhaps best known for the 1953 Tony Award-winning Broadway musical Kismet, the music mostly adapted from compositions by Alexander Borodin ~ Chichester passed away in 1999
July 31, 1907 ~ R&B, jump blues singer, drummer, bandleader Roy Milton born in Wynnewood, Oklahoma, USA ~ Formed the Solid Senders in 1933. Milton is best known for late-1940s, early-1950s R&B hits such as Hop Skip & Jump, Information Blues, Grooving With Joe, Best, and others ~ Milton passed away in 1983
July 31, 1894 ~ Pianist, composer Roy Bargy, full name Roy Fredrick Basrgy, born in Newaygo, Michigan, USA ~ Reportedly, in 1928 became the first pianist to record George Gershwin's Piano Concerto In F. Has worked with Charley Straight, the Benson Orchestra Of Chicago, Isham Jones, Paul Whiteman, Jimmy Durante, and others ~ Bargy passed away in 1974
July 31, 1847 ~ Pianist, composer Ignacio Cervantes, full name Ignacio Cervantes Kawanag, born in Havana, Cuba ~ Child prodigy. Would go on to become highly influential in the creolization of Cuban music. Would flee Cuba in 1875 after being warned by the government for raising money to fund the rebel cause, to return in later years. Known for his opera Maledetto, chamber pieces, zarzuelas, and songbooks. Father of María Cervantes, pianist, singer, composer ~ Cervantes passed away in 1905